U.S. patent number 9,751,471 [Application Number 14/434,106] was granted by the patent office on 2017-09-05 for device for holding a camera having a slotted guide.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG. The grantee listed for this patent is Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Heiko Schutz.
United States Patent |
9,751,471 |
Schutz |
September 5, 2017 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Device for holding a camera having a slotted guide
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for holding a camera (40)
which serves in particular as a parking assistance device for a
motor vehicle, comprising a housing (10) in which a slide (20) is
movably accommodated to which slide the camera (40) can be secured.
The slide (20) can be driven by a mechanism (30) having an arm (40)
that is rotatably mounted in the housing (10) about a first axis
(1) and that is mechanically functionally connected to a rocking
element (50). Said rocking element is rotatably mounted in the
housing (10) about a second axis (2) and the slide (20) is
rotatably mounted on the rocking element (50) about a third axis
(3), the movement of the slide (20) between a rest position (A) and
an operating position (B) being at least to some extent defined by
a housing guide (14) of the housing (10).
Inventors: |
Schutz; Heiko (Velbert,
DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG |
Velbert |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH &
Co. KG (Velbert, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
49305007 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/434,106 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2013 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 09, 2013 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2013/071083 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 08, 2015 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2014/056996 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
April 17, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150258945 A1 |
Sep 17, 2015 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2012 [DE] |
|
|
10 2012 109 610 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
13/19619 (20130101); G08B 13/19632 (20130101); B60R
11/04 (20130101); B60R 1/00 (20130101); H04N
5/2252 (20130101); H04N 5/2253 (20130101); B60R
2011/0082 (20130101); B60R 2300/806 (20130101); B60R
2011/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03B
17/00 (20060101); H04N 5/225 (20060101); G08B
13/196 (20060101); B60R 1/00 (20060101); B60R
11/04 (20060101); B60R 11/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;396/419,427 ;348/143
;248/177.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
102007052402 |
|
May 2009 |
|
DE |
|
102009008281 |
|
Aug 2010 |
|
DE |
|
102009015610 |
|
Oct 2010 |
|
DE |
|
WO 2012/107277 |
|
Aug 2012 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2012/107547 |
|
Aug 2012 |
|
WO |
|
WO 2014/056996 |
|
Apr 2014 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
International Search Report and the Written Opinion Dated Nov. 21,
2013 From the European Patent Office Re. Application No.
PCT/EP2013/071083 and Its Translation Into English. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Laballe; Clayton E
Assistant Examiner: Chang; Fang-Chi
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. Device for holding a camera with a housing in which a slide is
movable accepted at which the camera can be assembled wherein the
slide can be driven by a gear, which gear comprises an arm which is
movably mounted about a first axis and is in a mechanical operative
connection with a rocking element which is movably mounted at the
housing about a second axis, wherein each of the first axis and the
second axis is fixedly attached to the housing, wherein the slide
is movably mounted at the rocking element about a third axis,
wherein the rocking element comprises a steering guidance which
interacts with a steering element of the arm in order to move the
rocking element about the second axis and the slide about the third
axis wherein the steering guidance is performed S-like, and wherein
the movement of the slide between a rest position and an operating
position is at least partially determined by a housing guidance of
the housing.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the slide comprises a
housing side mounting opening in order to replaceably accept a
camera or an acceptance opening extending towards the outside
through which the camera is directed to the outside.
3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the arm is mounted at the
housing via a first joint and the rocking element is mounted at the
housing via a second joint and wherein the first axis proceeds
through the first joint and the second axis through the second
joint.
4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the first axis is parallel
to the second axis.
5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the slide is assembled at
the rocking element via a third joint wherein the third axis
proceeds through the third joint.
6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the third axis is movable
to the first axis and to the second axis with the rocking
element.
7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the slide comprises a
sliding element which is displaceable along the housing guidance of
the housing wherein the housing guidance is shaped arch-like.
8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a driving
guidance which interacts with a driving element of a drive in order
to move the arm about the first axis wherein the drive guidance is
shaped arch-like.
9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the gear is performed in a
way that the slide performs partly a swinging movement about the
second axis and partly a tilting movement about a third axis and
that the swinging movement from the rest position into the
operating position can be performed with an alterable radius which
is determined by the steering guidance.
10. Device according to claim 9, wherein the gear is configured in
a way that during the tilting movement the swinging movement of the
slide about a second axis is blocked and that the gear is
configured in a way that the swinging movement and a tilting
movement can at least partially occur at the same time.
11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an
opening through which the slide extends in the operating
position.
12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the slide and a Rd
element are in a mechanical operative connection and during the
movement from the rest position into the operating position the
slide actuates the lid element wherein the slide comprises at least
a pestle or the slide is detachably connected with the lid element
in a form or force fitting manner.
13. Device according to claim 11, wherein a protecting membrane is
intended which sealingly closes the free space between the opening
in the housing and the slide in order to avoid the penetration of
dirt particles or moisture into the housing.
14. Device according to claim 11, wherein the opening comprises a
collar element at which the lid element rests when the slide is in
the rest position, and wherein the collar element is configured
from an elastic material.
15. Device according to claim 11, wherein a lid element is intended
that closes the opening in the rest position of the slide, wherein
the lid element is pivotably or detachably mounted at the housing
via a swivel joint or form fittingly or force fittingly.
16. Method for mounting of a device according to claim 1 for the
acceptance of a camera a housing in which a slide is movably
accepted at which the camera can be assembled, wherein the housing
covers at least a first and a second housing part, wherein the
slide can be driven by the gear, which gear comprises the arm which
is pivotably mounted about the first axis at the housing and which
is in a mechanic operating connection with the rocking element
which is pivotably mounted at the housing about the second axis,
wherein each of the first axis and the second axis is fixedly
attached to the housing wherein the slide is pivotably mounted
about the third axis at the rocking element wherein the rocking
element comprises the steering guidance which interacts with the
steering element of the arm in order to move the rocking element
about the second axis and the slide about the third axis wherein
the steering guidance is performed S-like, wherein the movement of
the slide between the rest position and the operating position is
at least partially determined by the housing guidance of the
housing, and wherein the mounting comprises the following steps: in
a first step the gear and the slide are guided in a first mounting
direction towards the inside of the first housing part and are
assembled at the inside of the first housing part; and in a second
step the second housing part is guided in the first mounting
direction to the first housing part and is assembled with the first
housing part in a way that a swinging or tilting movement of the
slide can be performed between the rest position and the operating
position.
17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the first and the second
step are performed sequentially or that the first and the second
step are performed at least partially at the same time.
18. Method according to claim 16, wherein in a third step a housing
lid is assembled at the first or the second housing part.
19. Method according to claim 16, wherein a protecting membrane is
assembled at the slide wherein the protecting membrane is assembled
between the housing lid and at least one of both housing parts.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a National Phase of PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/EP2013/071083 having International filing date of Oct. 9, 2013,
which claims the benefit of priority of German Patent Application
No. 10 2012 109 610.4 filed on Oct. 10, 2012. The contents of the
above applications are all incorporated by reference as if fully
set forth herein in their entirety.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for holding a camera which can
particularly serve as a parking assistance of a vehicle. The device
comprises a housing in which the camera can be replaceably
received, and a gear which serves for moving the camera between a
rest position and an operating position.
Devices with a camera which serve for the image acquisition of the
external area of the vehicle are already known from the state of
the art. Such devices comprise a housing in which a camera is
moveably received between a rest position and an operating
position. For example, such cameras can be used in the area of the
assisted parking of vehicles. If, for example, the reverse gear of
the vehicle is used, the camera proceeds from the rest position in
the operating position wherein the camera at least partially
extends out of the housing. Thereby, the area behind the vehicle is
visually captured by the camera and shown on a display for the
driver of the vehicle. If the reverse drive is ended and the driver
removes the reverse gear, the camera can be moved back from the
operation position into the rest position.
In DE 10 2009 015 610 A1 a device with a permanently integrated
camera is disclosed which serves for the image acquisition of the
external area of the vehicle. The camera is thereby moveably
received in a housing between a rest position and an operating
position, wherein the housing is provided with a slotted guide for
guiding the movement of the camera, in which a sliding element
connected to the camera is guided. Thereby the disadvantage has
occurred that the device can only receive a certain camera, so that
the maintenance and the exchange of the camera are complicated. The
device further discloses a lid element for the protection of the
camera in the rest position, wherein the lid element is permanently
assembled at the camera. Herein, it is a disadvantage that during
an accident, when the lid element is damaged, the camera can be
likewise damaged. Moreover, it is a disadvantage that the device is
construction-wise assembled in a complicated manner, requiring many
components and a great construction space. Therefore the production
and the assembly of such devices are complicated and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to create a
simple, cost-efficient and compact device for the acceptance of a
camera and a method for the simple assembly of the device which
avoids the previously described disadvantages. Particularly, the
device should be able to accept different cameras, enable an
effective protection of the camera unit, comprise few construction
elements and a small construction space and can be easily
assembled.
This object is solved according to the invention by a device with
all features of the independent claim 1. The invention hereby
provides that the device comprises a slide which can replaceably
accept different cameras, and that the slide is moved using a gear
which gear comprises an arm and a rocking element which are jointly
assembled at a housing and are in a mechanic operative connection
to one another. The inventive idea is thereby that the slide is
jointly connected with the rocking element and the movement of the
slide between a rest position and an operating position can at
least partially be determined by a housing guidance of the
housing.
As an advantage the slide can comprise a housing-side mounting
opening in order to replaceably receive a camera. Through the
mounting opening the camera can be inserted and removed in a simple
manner. Moreover the mounting opening can be configured for the
acceptance of different camera models. The mounting opening can
moreover be configured in a way that in the mounted state the
camera is reliably received in the slide via a form and/or force
fit. Further, the slide can comprise latching and/or clamping
elements in the mounting opening which can interact with
complementary retaining elements of the camera so that the camera
can be securely assembled in the slide. Further, the slide can be
configured with an outside-facing acceptance opening through which
the camera can be directed towards the outside. Through the opening
an objective of the camera can visually record the external area of
the vehicle in an operating position of the slide.
According to the present invention the first arm can be assembled
at the housing by a first joint and the rocking element can be
assembled at the housing via a second joint. Herein the first axis
can proceed through the first joint and the second axis through the
second joint. The first and the second axis which can be immobile
or rigidly assembled at the housing determine the rotation or swing
axes of the arm and the rocking element and enable a secure and
stable guidance of the arm and the rocking element and therewith of
the slide for the camera. The movement of the arm and the rocking
element and the slide can thereby be limited on the left and on the
right side by the joints wherein the rocking arms of the rocking
elements are moved on the levels which proceed vertical to the
first and second axis through the first and second joint. When the
arm and the rocking element conduct stable swinging movements, the
slide likewise experiences a stable swinging movement between the
rest position and the operating position. Moreover, the movement of
the slide can be secured in a way that the housing according to the
invention can comprise two plane parallel walls which can each be
configured with a housing guidance which at least partially
determine the movement of the slide.
According to the invention the first axis can be immobile or
rigidly assembled at the housing about which the arm can be moved.
The second axis can likewise be immobile or rigidly assembled at
the housing about which the rocking element can be moved.
Construction-wise the first axis can proceed parallel to the second
axis. This assembly of the first and second axis enables that the
slide can be stably moved between the rest position and the
operating position. Thereby, the slide can be moved parallel to the
level in which the first and the second joint and the guidance of
the housing are assembled.
According to a particular advantage the gear can comprise a third
movable axis at the rocking element about which the slide can be
moved. Thereby, the slide can be assembled via a third joint at the
rocking element, wherein particularly the third axis can proceed
through the third joint. According to the invention the gear can be
assembled in a way that the third axis can be moved parallel to the
first axis and to the second axis during the movement of the slide.
According to the invention the third axis can be moved along with
the rocking element about the second axis. Thus, the slide cannot
only be moved with the rocking element about the second axis, but
can also be tilted about the third axis, which is determined by the
third joint. The slide can thereby at least partially perform a
swing and tilting movement at the same time. Thus, it can be
achieved that the necessary construction space for the assembly or
for guidance of the slide and therewith the camera, is minimized.
Thereby, it is a particular advantage that the construction space
of the device is considerably reduced for the acceptance of the
camera.
According to the invention the slide can comprise a sliding element
which can be movable along the housing guidance of the housing
wherein particularly the housing guidance can be shaped arch-like.
Thereby the guidance can interact with a sliding element of a gear
in order to stabilize the movement of the rocking element,
particularly about the first axis. The guidance can be configured
as an opening in the housing wall and/or in a slotted guide and/or
as a track inside at the housing wall. Advantageously, the sliding
element can be configured as a cam which is displaced in the
guidance. According to a particular advantage the sliding element
can comprise a cog which can be pivotably moved in the guidance in
order to minimize friction losses and optimize the drive effect of
the gear.
The arm according to the invention can be configured with a drive
guidance which interacts with a drive element of a gear in order to
move the arm about the first axis. Herein the drive guidance can be
shaped arch-like. Advantageously, the drive can serve for operating
the gear. For this purpose according to the invention a cod-wheel
drive can be intended. The drive can influence the arm via the
drive element. The arm which is in a mechanic operative connection
with the rocking element can transmit the drive effect to the
rocking element and therewith to the slide in order to move the
slide.
Advantageously, the rocking element can comprise a steering
guidance, which can interact with a steering element of the arm in
order to move the rocking element about the second axis and the
slide about the third axis. According to a particular advantage it
is intended that the steering guidance is configured S-like.
Advantageously, thereby the steering element of the arm can slide
about the first axis along a part of the arch-like steering
guidance during the swinging movement of the arm which resembles a
pitch circle with the center in the first joint and with the radius
which corresponds to the length of the arm. Thereby, the swinging
radius increases with which the rocking element moves about the
second axis. If the steering element slides further in the steering
guidance in a further part of the arch-like steering guidance, a
tilting movement of the slide can be enforced, while the rocking
element further moves with an increasing swinging radius about the
second axis which swinging radius can be determined from the
position of the steering element in the steering guidance.
Advantageously, it can thereby be achieved that the slide cannot
only be moved with the sliding element about the second axis but
can be tilted further in the direction of the operating position
about the third movable axis.
The inventive idea is thereby that the gear can be configured in a
way that the slide can perform partly a swinging movement about the
second axis and partly a tilting movement about the third axis.
Hereby the swinging movement from the rest position into the
operating position can be performed with an alterable radius which
can be determined by the steering guidance. Thus, it is
advantageously ensured that the construction space can be
significantly reduced which is necessary for the storage and for
the guidance of the slide. By unrolling of the sliding element in
the housing guidance it can moreover be ensured that the slide can
be securely and stably moved by the gear between the rest position
and the operating position.
Advantageously, in the first drive phase the drive element can be
moved from a housing-side stop to a gear-side stop of the drive
guidance without actuating the gear. Subsequently, in the second
drive phase the drive element can influence the gear-side stop in a
way that the steering element can be moved from a lower stop of the
steering guidance to an upper peak. Thereby the sliding element of
the slide can be moved along a housing guidance from a posterior
stop to the center of the housing guidance. Moreover, in the third
drive phase the steering element can interact with the steering
guidance in a way that the steering element can be moved from an
upper peak of the drive guidance to a lower peak. At the same time
the guiding element in the drive guidance can be moved backwards
from a guidance-side stop in the direction to a housing-side stop.
Herein the sliding element can be moved along a guidance from the
center of the guidance to an anterior stop. Finally the steering
element can interact in the fourth drive phase with the steering
guidance in a way that the steering element can be moved from a
lower peak of the steering guidance to an upper peak that the drive
element can be moved further backwards in the direction of the
housing-side stop to a center of the drive guidance. Thereby, the
sliding element can rest at the anterior stop of the housing
guidance while the slide can be moved or tilted about the third
axis further in direction of the operating position. It can be
advantageously intended that the gear, particularly the steering
element, can engage in the operating position of the slide in the
steering guidance. Thus, the slide can be securely hold in the
operating position in order to move the slide again wherein a drive
force is needed in order to run through the drive process in a
reverse direction and to bring the slide into the rest
position.
It can be intended that the gear is assembled in a way that during
the tilting movement the swinging movement of the slide is blocked
about the second axis. Thereby the slide can be moved about the
second axis in a first movement phase and subsequently be tilted in
the second movement phase in the direction of the operating
position. Alternatively it is possible that the gear is configured
in a way that the tilting movement and the swinging movement can at
least partially occur at the same time. Thereby, the slide can
perform an arch-like swinging movement and at the same time tilt a
bit forward in the operating position which minimizes the movement
space of the slide and therewith the construction space of the
device.
Advantageously, the housing can comprise an opening through which
the slide can extend in the operating position. Further, a lid
element can be intended that in the rest position can close the
opening of the slide. The lid element can be assembled underneath
the manufacturer sign at the rear end of the vehicle or can be the
manufacturer sign itself. The lid element can thereby cover and
protect the camera in the rest position. Further, the lid element
can fulfill a sealing function.
According to the invention a protecting membrane can be intended
which can seal the free space between the opening in the housing
and the slide in order to avoid the penetration of dirt particles
and moisture into the housing and protect the camera from weather
influences. The protecting membrane can be configured in form of a
bellow membrane, particularly tube-like. Thereby, one edge of the
bellow-shaped protecting membrane can be assembled at the edge of
the opening outside of the housing. This edge of the protecting
membrane can thereby be assembled or clamped between the edge of
the opening and the housing lid via a form and/or force fit and/or
can be glued on the edge of the opening. The second edge of the
bellow-like protecting membrane can be assembled at the outside at
an opening, particularly the recess opening of the slide. This edge
of the protecting membrane can be hold via a clamping ring at the
edge of the opening and/or can be glued at the edge of the opening.
The protecting membrane can thereby be configured from an elastic
material. During the movement of the slide the protecting membrane
can be deformed. Advantageously, the membrane sealingly closes the
opening in the housing, so that no dirt or moisture can penetrate
into the housing and damage the camera.
Further, it can be intended that the opening is configured with a
collar element at which the lid element can noislessly abut and if
necessary absorb when the slide is in the rest position wherein
particularly the collar element is configured from an elastic
material.
The housing of the device and/or the gear and/or the slide and/or
the rocking elements can be configured from a random plastic, metal
or the like, which particularly comprises a higher hardness than
the material of the protecting membrane and/or the collar
element.
Advantageously it can be intended that the lid element does not
need a particular drive. According to the invention the lid element
can be pushed open by the camera during the movement from the rest
position into the operating position in an opening position
regarding the camera. Back in the closing position the lid can fall
down by the effect of its own gravity and/or can be tightened by a
connecting element at the slide. The slide can thereby be in a
mechanical operative connection with the lid element in a way that
during the movement between the rest position and the operating
position the slide moves along with the lid element between the
open position and the closing position. Hereby it can be intended
that the slide comprises at least one pestle and/or the slide can
be connected with the lid element in a form and/or force fitting
way.
Advantageously, the lid element can be pivotably and/or detachably
assembled at the housing via a swivel joint and/or form fittingly
and/or force fittingly. Herewith, it is ensured that the lid
element can be pushed open and/or can be pulled back via the camera
or the slide without being driven. Only a pivotable connection of
the lid element with the housing is necessary. Further, the lid can
be performed removable or detachable. Therewith, a particular
advantage is achieved that in case of a collision with another
vehicle or object, the lid element is damaged or can fall off,
however, the camera is not damaged by the influence on the lid
element. If the lid element remains in an open position, no danger
occurs for the interior of the device and it only falls off with a
mechanical influence on the lid element.
Further, the object of the present invention is solved through a
method with all features of the method claim for the mounting of a
device which serves for the acceptance of a camera which can for
example be used as a parking assistance of a vehicle. The device
can comprise a housing in which a slide can be movably received at
which the camera can be assembled. Thereby the housing can comprise
at least a first and a second housing part. For guiding of the
slide between the rest position and the operating position a gear
is intended which comprises an arm which can be movably mounted
about a first axis at the housing and can be in a mechanical
operative connection with a rocking element which can be movably
mounted about a second axis at the housing. Further, the slide can
be movably mounted about a third axis at the rocking element
wherein the movement of the slide between a rest position and an
operating position can be at least partially determined through a
housing guidance of the housing. The mounting of the device
according to the invention can comprise the following steps in any
order:
In a first step, the gear and the slide can be guided in a first
mounting direction towards the inside of the first housing part and
can be assembled at the inside of the first housing part. In a
second step, the second housing part can be guided in the first
mounting direction towards the first housing part and with the
second housing part be assembled in a way that a swinging and/or
tilting movement of the slide can be performed between the rest
position and the operating position. The mounting of the device can
thereby be simplified in a way that all components of the gear and
the slide are assembled for the acceptance of the camera at a
housing part, particularly a wall of the housing. Not until that
the second housing part can be assembled at the first housing part
in a way that the gear and the slide according to the invention are
protectively covered by the housing. According to the invention it
can be intended that the first and second step can be performed
sequentially. Alternatively, it can be intended that the first and
second step can at least partially occur at the same time.
In a further third step the housing lid can be assembled at the
first and/or on the second housing part which is directed to the
outside from the vehicle interior in order to protect the gear,
particularly the drive, and the camera assembled within the slide
from mechanic influences from the outside.
In a step according to the invention a protection membrane can be
assembled at the slide wherein the protection membrane can be
assembled between the housing lid and at least one of both housing
parts. The protection membrane can be configured in form of a
bellow membrane, particularly tube-like. Thereby, one edge of the
bellow-like protection membrane can be assembled at an edge of the
opening outside at the housing or the housing lid. This edge of the
protecting membrane can thereby be assembled or clamped between the
housing lid and with one or both housing parts via a form and/or
force fit and/or can be glued on the edge of an opening of the
housing lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
According to the invention the features of the description of the
device according to the invention and the method according to the
invention can be essential for the invention single by themselves
or in different combinations. Further methods improving the
invention are subsequently described in detail together with the
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention. It is
shown:
FIG. 1 a device according to the invention in a perspective
view,
FIG. 2a a lateral view of the device according of the invention in
the rest position of the slide,
FIG. 2b a lateral view of the device according to the invention in
a position between the rest position and the operating position of
the slide,
FIG. 2c a lateral view of the device according to the invention in
an operating position of the slide,
FIG. 3a a perspective view of the device according to the invention
in the rest position of the slide,
FIG. 3b a perspective view of the device according to the invention
in an operating position of the slide,
FIG. 4a a perspective view of the device according to the invention
in a rest position of the slide from another point of view as in
FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b,
FIG. 4b a perspective view of the device according to the invention
in an operating position of the slide from the point of view of
FIG. 4a,
FIG. 5 a schematic drawing of the arm according to the invention
and a rocking element according to the invention, and
FIG. 6 a schematic drawing of the housing according to the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention with a slide 20
which can replaceably receive a camera 60 and comprise a gear 30
which can move the slide 20 between a rest position A and an
operating position B. The gear 30 comprises an arm 40 and a rocking
element 50 wherein the rocking element 50 is jointly connected with
the slide 20. The arm 40 and the rocking element 50 are pivotably
assembled at a housing 10 using a first 11 and a second joint 12.
The joints 11, 12 can thereby be configured in form of pins or
screws. The slide 20 is swingable using a third joint 13 at the
rocking element 50. By the three joints 11, 12, 13 the slide 20 can
be partly moved and partly tilted between the rest position A and
the operating position B. The slide 20 thereby comprises a mounting
opening 24 through which different cameras 60 can be received in
the slide 20. For a secure acceptance of the camera 60 the slide
can be configured in a way that the camera 60 is held form and/or
force fitting and/or with the help of latching and/or clamping
elements.
The FIG. 1 shows the slide 20 in a retracted rest position A in
which the camera 60 is assembled and protected within the housing
10 by the lid element 18 which closes an opening 17 in a housing
lid 15. In the operating position B of the slide 20 the camera 60
can extend in an extended state through the opening 17 towards the
outside. The lid element 18 is detachably assembled at the housing
lid 15 by a swivel joint 19 and can be moved along with the slide
20 between an open position and a closing position, when the slide
20 moves between a rest position A and an operating position B not
shown in FIG. 1.
The housing 10 comprises a first housing part 16a and a second
housing part 16b, which is not shown in FIG. 1, which can be
screwed to one another and with the housing lid 15. According to
the invention, a protecting membrane 9 can be intended in order to
seal the inside of the housing 10. The protecting membrane 9 can be
configured bellow-like and/or tube-like. Thereby one edge of the
protecting membrane 9 can be assembled at the outside of the
housing 10. The protecting membrane 9 can thereby be clamped and/or
screwed and/or glued between the housing lid 15 and the first 16a
and/or the second housing part 16b. The protecting membrane 9
thereby seals the space between the opening 17 and the slide 20
that no moisture or dirt particles can penetrate into the inside of
the housing 10. The other edge of the protecting membrane 9 can be
tensed about the slide 20 at the edge of the not shown acceptance
opening 25 for the camera 60.
The gear 30 comprises a first axis 1 immobile assembled at the
housing 10 about which the arm 40 can be moved and a second axis 2
immobile assembled at the housing 10 about which the rocking
element 50 can be moved. The first axis 1 thereby proceeds parallel
to the second axis 2 wherein the slide 20 can perform a swinging
movement S to one part together with the rocking element 50 about
the axis 2. The first axis 1 proceeds according to the invention
through the first joint 11 at the second axis 2 through the second
joint 12. The slide 20 is assembled at the rocking element 50 with
the help of the third joint 13 like previously described wherein at
both sides of the slide 20 each a third swivel joint 13 is
assembled. The extension direction between both swivel joints 13 is
determined by a third axis 3 at the rocking element 50 with which
the rocking element 50 moves along or moves about the second axis
2. Thereby, the third axis extends always parallel to the first 1
and to the second axis 2. Thereby, the slide 20 can be moved
likewise about a second axis 2 together with the rocking element
50. At the same time during the swinging movement S of the slide 20
about the second axis 2 or sequential to the swinging movement S
the slide 20 can tilt about a third axis 3. At least partially, the
swinging movement S and the tilting movement K of the slide 20 can
be determined by a not shown housing guidance 14 in the housing 10,
in which a sliding element 21 of the slide 20 can be guided.
Further, the housing guidance 14 of the housing 10 can serve for
stabilizing the movement of the slide 20 between the rest position
A and the operating position B. The movement of the slide 20 which
is composed from a swinging movement S about the second axis 2 and
the tilting movement K about the third axis 3 enables to minimize
the necessary construction space for the storage and for the
guidance of the slide 20 within the housing 10.
The arm 40 comprises according to the invention a drive guidance 44
which can interact with a drive element 71 of a drive 70 in order
to move the arm 40. The drive 70 therewith moves the whole gear 30
wherein the effect on the arm 40 is transmitted via a steering
guidance 54 at the rocking arm 52 of the rocking element 50 to the
rocking element 50 and via the third joint 13 also on the slide 20.
The drive 70 is for example shown as a cog wheel drive. The drive
guidance 44 is according to the alternative embodiment shown as a
groove in a member of the arm 40. Alternatively it is possible that
the drive guidance 44 is configured as a slotted guide and/or as a
track inside at the member of the arm 40. The drive guidance 44 is
according to the invention arch-like. The steering guidance 54 of
the rocking element 50 can likewise be configured as a slotted
guide, a groove or a track at the rocking arm 52. According to the
present invention the steering guidance 54 is configured S-like in
order to on the one hand cause that the rocking element 50 can be
moved about the second axis 2 and on the other hand enable a
tilting movement K of the slide 20 about a third axis 3.
In a first drive phase I which is described in detail in the
description of FIGS. 2a to 2c the drive element 71 driven by the
drive 70 can be moved from a housing side stop 44a to a gear side
stop 44b without moving the gear 30. Subsequently, in a second
driving phase II the drive element 71 pushes to the gear side stop
44b and moves the arm 40 about the first axis 1. A steering element
41 of the arm 40 which is guided in a steering guidance 45 of the
rocking element 55 thereby processes in the steering guidance 54
from a lower stop 54a to an upper peak 54s of the steering guidance
54 and thereby acts together with the steering guidance 54 in a way
that the rocking element 50 is moved about the second axis 2. In
the third drive phase III the drive element 71 reaches the gear
side stop 44b of the drive guidance 44. Subsequently, the drive
element 71 has an effect together with the drive guidance 44 in a
way that the steering element 41 further proceeds from the upper
peak 54s in a lower peak 54f of the steering guidance 54. This
effects that the rocking element 50 further moves about the axis 2.
At the same time the drive element 71 proceeds backwards from the
gear side stop 44b in the direction to the center of the drive
guidance 44. Subsequently in a fourth drive phase IV the drive
element 71 reaches the center of the drive guidance 44, the
steering element 41 an upper peak 54b of the steering guidance 54
wherein the rocking element 50 further moves about the second axis
2. Thereby the rocking element 50 proceeds about the second axis 2
with an increasing pivoting radius depending on the position of the
steering element 41 in the steering guidance 54. During these four
driving phases II, III and/or IV which are shown in detail in FIGS.
2a, 2b and 2c the slide 20 proceeds together with the rocking
element 50 about the second axis 2 and further performs another
swinging movement S or a tilting movement K about the third axis
with a pivoting radius which corresponds to the distance between
the joint 13 and the sliding element 21. Thereby the swinging
movement S and the tilting movement K of the slide 20 can be
determined by the housing guidance 14 in the housing 10 with which
the sliding element 21 of the slide 20 can interact.
FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show a lateral view of how the gear 30
according to the invention drives the slide 20 between the rest
position A of FIG. 2a and the operating position B of FIG. 2c.
During the first drive phase I the drive element 71 slides in the
drive guidance 44 from a housing side stop 44a of the drive
guidance 44 to a gear side stop 44b without moving the gear 30.
During the second drive phase II the drive element 71 acts on the
gear side stop 44b in a way that a steering element 41 of the arm
40 moves from a lower stop 54a of the steering guidance 54 at the
rocking element 50 to an upper peak 54s, and that the sliding
element 21 of the slide 20 along the housing guidance 15 moves from
a posterior stop 14a until approximately to the center of the
housing guidance 14. During the third drive phase III the steering
element 41 acts together with the steering guidance 54 in a way
that the steering element 41 moves from the lower peak 54f to an
upper peak 54s of the steering guidance 54. Thereby, the drive
element 71 moves from a gear side stop 44b a small part backwards
in the direction of the housing side stop 44a in the drive guidance
44. Meanwhile the sliding element 21 moves along the sliding
guidance 14 from approximately the center of the housing guidance
14 to an anterior stop 14b. Finally, in the fourth drive phase IV
the steering element 41 acts with the steering guidance 54 together
in a way that the steering element 41 moves from an upper peak 54s
to an upper stop 54b of the steering guidance 54. Thereby the drive
element 71 moves further backwards in the direction of a housing
side stop 44a until approximately the center of the drive guidance
44 wherein the sliding element 21 rests at the anterior stop 14b of
the housing guidance 14. This assembly of the arm 40 with the drive
guidance 44 and the rocking element 50 with the steering guidance
54 it is subsequently further described in detail in the
description of FIG. 5.
During the drive phases II to IV the leverage affects also the
slide 20 produced by the steering element 41. The steering element
41 which acts on the steering guidance 45 at the rocking arm 52 of
the rocking element 50 thereby creates a turning moment at the
rocking element 50 which is further transmitted also to the slide
20. The slide 20 therewith experiences a turning moment with a
lever arm which comprises a length equal to the distance between
the joint 13 and the sliding element 21. During the drive phases 2
to 4 the slide 20 moves also together with the rocking element 50
with an alterable pivoting radius which corresponds to the distance
between the second joint 12 and the position of the steering
element 41 of the arm 40 in the steering guidance 54 of the rocking
element 50. The alterable pivoting radius can further be determined
at least partially by the orientation and the form of the housing
guidance 14. The housing guidance 14 can further lead to
stabilizing the swinging movement S of the slide 20. At the same
time of the swinging movement S the slide 20 performs a tilting
movement K about the third axis 3 with a pivoting lever which is
determined by the position of the sliding element 21 in the housing
guidance 14 and the position of the third joint 13. The sliding
element 21 can be configured as a cam and/or as a cog which can
slide and/or roll off in the housing guidance 14. The sliding
element 21 can be assembled at an upper rear side 22 of the slide
20 and the third joint 3 at a lower rear side 23 of the slide
20.
The device according to the invention thereby comprises a housing
10 which incorporates the gear 30 and comprises an opening 17 in
the housing lid 15 through which the slide 20 can extend in the
operating position B of FIG. 2c. The opening 17 in the housing 10
is closed with a lid element 18 in the rest position A in FIG. 2a.
The lid element 18 can thereby cover and protect the camera 60 in
the rest position A. The lid element 18 is pivotably and detachably
assembled at the housing 10 via a swivel joint 19 wherein the lid
element 18 can be pushed open and/or be retracted without a drive
by the slide 20. The lid element 18 is thereby in an operative
connection with the slide 20 via a detachable connecting element
26.
The FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b show a device according to the
invention in a perspective view from the top and from the bottom
wherein the FIGS. 3a and 4a show the device in a rest position A of
the slide 20 and the FIGS. 3b and 4b show the device in an
operating position B. The device comprises a housing 10 which
comprises a housing lid 15 which extends outside the vehicle to the
outside. In the housing lid 15 an opening 17 is intended through
which a movable slide 20 can be moved from the rest position A into
the operation position B, wherein in the operating position B the
camera 60 which is replaceably accommodated in the slide 20 can
extend through the opening 17 and can visually register the outer
area of the vehicle. The slide 20 comprises at this side an
acceptance opening 25 through which the objective of the camera 60
can extend. At the housing lid 15 a lid element 18 is assembled
which covers the opening 17 in the rest position A of the slide 20.
Herein, the lid element 18 is detachably assembled at the housing
10 via a swivel joint 19. At the inside of the housing 10 which is
shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b the housing 10 is configured with another
opening through which the camera 16 can be inserted during the
mounting in an acceptance opening 25 of the slide 20. Thereby, the
camera 16 can be kept slip resistantly in the slide 20 via a form
and/or force fit or via latching elements. The housing 10 can
enclose a gear 30 and a drive 70 wherein the gear 30 serves for
driving the slide 20. The gear 70 is configured as a gear drive
with a drive element 71 which engages in a drive guidance 44 at an
arm 40 of the gear 30 and the arm 40 is pivotably moved about a
first axis 1. Hereby, the arm 40 transmits the movement to a
rocking element 50 of the gear 30 and further to the slide 20. The
gear 30 is configured according to the invention in a way that the
slide 20 can perform a swinging movement S about a second immovable
axis 2 and a tilting movement K about a third movable axis 3
between the rest position A and the operating position B.
The arm 40 and the rocking element 50 are assembled pivotably at a
first housing part 16a of the housing 10 via two joints 11, 12
corresponding about a first axis 1 and a second axis 2. A second
housing part 16b not shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b can comprise a
further second joint 12 for the pivotably mounting of the rocking
element 50. Advantageously the gear 30 and the arm 40 and the
rocking element 50 and the therewith connected slide 20 can be
initially assembled at the first housing part 16a wherein
subsequently the second housing part 16b can be assembled as a
cover covering the gear 30 with said components 40, 50 and 20.
FIG. 5 schematically shows the arm 40 and the rocking element 50,
which are in a mechanical operative connection with one another.
The arm 40 is thereby pivotably mounted about the first axis 1 and
the rocking element 50 pivotably about the second axis 2. The arm
40 is thereby driven by the engagement of the drive element 71 in
the drive guidance 44. The drive guidance 44 is formed arc-like
according to the invention in order to perform a swinging movement
of the arm 40. During the first drive phase I, like shown in the
description of FIG. 2a, the drive element 71 moves from a housing
side stop 44a to a gear side stop 44b of the drive guiding 44
wherein the arm 40 not yet moves. If the drive element 71 pushes in
the second drive phase II of FIG. 2b on the gear side stop 44b, the
arm 40 can be moved wherein the steering element 41 of the arm 40
can influence the steering guidance 54 of the rocking element 50.
The further the steering element 41 moves in the steering guidance
54, the greater is the pivoting radius with which the swinging
movement is transmitted to the rocking element 50. In the second
drive phase II the steering element 41 passes through a first
section of the steering guidance 54 between a lower stop 54a and an
upper peak 54s of the steering guidance 54. In a third drive phase
III the steering element 41 moves further into the steering
guidance 54 until a lower peak 54f and subsequently in the fourth
driving phase IV until an upper stop 54b of the steering guidance
54. The steering guidance 54 is advantageously performed in a way
that not only the rocking element 50 can perform a swinging
movement S with an increasing radius, but also the slide 20 wherein
the slide 20 additionally in the fourth drive phase IV can perform
a tilting movement K at least partially caused by the performance
of the steering guidance 54 between the lower peak 54f and the
upper stop 54b of the steering guidance 54. The tilting radius
about which the slide 20 can be moved can at least partially be
determined by the distance between a third axis 3 and the sliding
element 21 of the slide 20 which sliding element 21 performs in a
housing guidance 14 shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c.
FIG. 6 shows that the housing 10 comprises at least a third 16a and
a second housing part 16b and a housing lid 15. The method
according to the invention for the mounting of the device shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4b can thereby intend that in a first step the gear 30
and the slide 20 are guided in a first mounting direction M, like
shown in FIG. 6, towards the inside of the first housing part 16b
and can be assembled at the inside of the first housing part 16a.
Subsequently, in a second step the second housing part 16b can be
guided in the first mounting direction M to the first housing part
16a and be assembled with the first housing part 16a in a way that
a swinging movement S and/or a tilting movement K of the slide 20
can be performed between the rest position A and the operating
position B like shown in FIGS. 2b to 2c. The second housing part
16b can thereby be performed with a second joint 12 and a housing
guidance 14, symmetrically to the second joint 12 and to the
housing guidance 14 of the first housing part 16a. Thus, the
rocking element 50 can be pivotably received double sided at both
housing parts 16a, 16b wherein the slide 20 can comprise a sliding
element 21 at each side respectively which can be guided at both
sides of the slide 20 in the respective complementary housing
guidance 14. Thereby, the first and the second step can be
sequentially performed. Alternatively it is likewise possible that
the first and the second step can at least partially occur at the
same time. Such an assembly of the gear 30 at only a first housing
part 16 which is initially accessible from all sides facilitates
the mounting of the components 30, 40, 50 and 20. Wherein the
second housing part 16b after the completed mounting of the gear 30
only has to be placed on the first housing part 16a. The second
housing part 16b can be assembled by screws and/or by latching
elements and/or form and/or force fittingly at the first housing
part 16a. Subsequently, in a third mounting step or between the
first and the second mounting step the housing lid 15 shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4b can be assembled by screws and/or by latching
elements and/or form and/or force fittingly on the first housing
part 16a and/or on the second housing part 16b.
When during the operation of the device or the camera 60 a
maintenance of one of the components 30, 40, 50 or 20 or the camera
60 becomes necessary, the maintenance can be performed without
completely demounting the device. Hereby, in a simple manner only
the second housing part 16b can be demounted, so that an easy
access to the component parts 30, 40, 50 and 20 of the device
and/or of the mounting opening 24 of the slide 20 is ensured during
the exchange or repair of the camera 60. Further, it is an
advantage that the device according to the invention can be
completed and assembled also without camera 60 wherein it can be
left to the vehicle manufacturer or user to insert the desired
camera into the device.
Advantageously, the lid element 18 can easily fall off from the
swivel joint 19 during an accident or a collision with another
vehicle or another object or a user in order not to transmit the
impact to the device and not to damage the other vehicle or the
other object or not to injure the user. According to the invention,
the lid element 18 does not require a particular drive. The lid
element 18 can be lifted between the opening position and the
closing position according to the opening 17 by the slide 20
wherein the slide 20 comprises a detachable connecting element 26
to the lid element 18.
According to the invention, further a protecting membrane not shown
in FIGS. 2a to 4b can be intended in order to seal the free space
between the opening 17 and the housing 10 and the slide 20. The
protecting membrane 9 can advantageously avoid the penetration of
dirt particles or moisture into the housing 10 and protect the
camera 60 from weather influences. The protecting membrane 9 can,
like previously shown in FIG. 2, also be configured as a bellow
membrane. The protecting membrane 9 can be performed from an
elastic material wherein during the movement of the slide 20 the
protecting membrane can be deformed. The protecting membrane can in
a further mounting step or between the first and the second or
between the second and the third step be assembled at the slide 20
and at the housing lid 15. Likewise it is possible, that the
protecting membrane 9 can be assembled on the slide 20 previous to
the first mounting step for example by a clamping ring outside of
the acceptance opening 25 wherein subsequently during the mounting
of the housing lid 15 a second edge of the protecting membrane 9
can be clamped between the housing lid 15 and/or the first housing
part 16a and/or the second housing part 16b and particularly be
glued at the housing lid 15 at the edge of the opening 17.
Further it can be intended that the opening 17 can be equipped from
the outside to the housing lid 15 with a collar element from
elastic material at which the lid element 18 can be absorbed in
order to avoid closing noises when the slide 20 moves back into the
rest position A.
The housing 10 of the device and/or the gear 30 and/or the slide 20
and/or the arm 40 and/or the rocking element 50 can for example be
configured from plastic and can be produced by a forming process
like form molding or injection molding. The housing 10 and the gear
30 including the arms 40 and the rocking element 50 can be
configured from a first material and the protecting membrane 9 and
the collar element from a second material wherein the first
material comprises a higher hardness degree than the second
material.
All features and/or advantages described in the claims, the
description or the drawings including the constructive details and
the spatial arrangement can be essential according to the invention
in single or in different combinations, particularly based on FIGS.
1 to 6.
REFERENCE LIST
1 First axis 2 Second axis 3 Third axis 9 Protecting membrane 10
Housing 11 First joint 12 Second joint 13 Third joint 14 Housing
guidance 14a Posterior stop of the housing guidance 14b Anterior
stop of the housing guidance 15 Housing lid 16a First housing part
16b Second housing part 17 Opening in the housing 18 Lid element 19
Swivel joint of the lid element 20 Slide 21 Sliding element 22
Upper rear side of the slide 23 Lower rear side of the slide 24
Mounting opening 25 Acceptance opening 26 Detachable connection
element of the lid element 18 30 Gear 40 Arm 41 Steering element 44
Drive guidance 44a Housing side stop of the drive guidance 44b Gear
side stop of the drive guidance 50 Rocking element 52 Rocking arm
54 Steering guidance 54a Lower stop of the steering guidance 54s
Upper peak of the steering guidance 54f Lower peak of the steering
guidance 54b Upper stop of the steering guidance 60 Camera 70 Drive
71 Drive element A Rest position B Operating position K Tilting
movement of the slide 20 S Swing movement of the slide 20 I First
drive phase II Second drive phase III Third drive phase IV Fourth
drive phase
* * * * *